Scales



Aug. 9, 1960 K. c. ALLEN ET AL 2,948,466

SCALES Filed Jan. 25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG-1 FIG-2 25 COPY vman'rVALUE LBSJCET.

BEEF Ly. U.S. CHOICE INVENITORS KENNETH c. ALLEN & BY DAVID A. MEEKERATTORN E YS 1950 K. c. ALLEN ET AL 2,948,466

SCALES Filed Jan. 25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-4 24 67 65 FIG-5 4 2 45KENNETH C. ALLEN a DAVID A. MEEKER My ATTORNEYS Aug. 9, 1960 K. c. ALLENET AL 2,948,466

SCALES Filed Jan. 25, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG-8 28 JNVEN TORs KENNETHC. ALLEN a DAVID A. MEEKER 1 ATTORNEYS United States Patent SCALESKenneth C. Allen, Dayton, and David A. Meeker, Troy,

Ohio, assignors to The Hobart Manufacturing Company, Troy, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Filed Jan. 25, 1956, Ser. No. 561,336-

24 Claims. (Cl. 235-58) This invention relates to apparatus for thehandling of printed tickets such particularly as successive labels orthe like.

The invention has special applicability to use in a weighing systemincorporating a weighing mechanism together with apparatus for computingthe value of successive weighed articles and for issuing printed ticketsidentifying the weight and the unit price and value of the articles. Forexample, the invention is described hereinafter in conjunction with aweighing system for use by a food store in prepackaging operationswherein aseries of successive packages or articles of foodcommoditiesare weighed and then labeled with a printed ticketidentifying the commodity together with its weight, unit price andvalue. In such packaging operations, it is important to provide formaximum speed while still giving maximum assurance against error atevery stage of the operation, to the end that each successive package orother article be properly identified by its own printed label or otherticket and that the information appearing on each such ticket beaccurate in every respect.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a weighingsystem of the above type which includes a weighing mechanism having acomputer and a printer interconnected therewith for printing and issuingsuccessive printed tickets showing the weight andthe unit price andvalue of successive articles weighed by the mechanism, and which alsoincludes a mechanism associated with the printer which will advance eachsuccessive ticket to a delivery station in a desired position forapplication by the operator to its. related package or other article.

Another object of the invention is to provide a weighing system asoutlined above wherein the ticket handling mechanism is interconnectedwith the computer and printer in such manner as to prevent operation. ofthe printer related to a subsequent article until the previously printedticket has been withdrawn from the delivery station.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a weighing system asoutlined above wherein delivery of the printed ticket to the deliverystation is prevented if an error has occurred in the operation of theprinter, and wherein also correction of the error requires manualoperation of a reset member and thereby positively indicates to theoperator that the ticket resulting from such improper operation isdefective and should not be used.

A further object of. the invention is to provide a ticket handlingmechanism which is adapted for use as outlined above with a printerconstructed to issue successive tickets face-down, and which includesprovision for turning each successive ticket face-up in the course ofadvancing the ticket to the delivery station for ready application to apackage to be subsequently wrapped in a separate wrapper.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a ticket handlingmechanismwhich is adapted for use with tickets having a heat sensitiveadhesive on the back thereof and Patented Aug. 9, 1950 whichincorporates a heater for activating the adhesive under such conditionsat the delivery station that the ticket may be directly applied to thepackage or other article without handling by the operator.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings and the appendedclaims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a completeweighing system incorporating a ticket handling mechanism in accordancewith the invention and including a weighing scale, a computer actuatedby the scale, and a printer for printing and issuing printed ticketsidentifying the weighed commodity and also showing the weight and theunit price and value of each successive load weighed on. the scale;

Fig. 2 illustrates a printed ticket of: the type supplied by theapparatus of Fig. 1;

Fig.. 3 is a view looking at the front of the ticket handling mechanismin Fig. 1 with portions of the: right hand side of the view beingremoved or broken away;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5' is an enlarged fragment of Fig. 4 illustrating the operation ofthe mechanism;

Fig. 6 is another enlarged fragment of Fig. 4 further illustrating theoperation of the mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the form of the mechanism ofthe invention for handling tickets having a heat sensitive adhesivecoating;

Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 showing the operated positions of theparts;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating an operating detail of boththe mechanisms of Figs. 1-9;

Fig. 11 is a wiring diagram; and

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary view illustrating a modification of the wiringdiagram of Fig. 11.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of theinvention, the complete weighing system of Fig. 1 includes a poweroperated scale 15 having a platter 16 which receives the package orother article to be weighed, and an example of a satisfactory poweroperated scale is disclosed inthe copending application. of Kenneth C.Allen Serial No. 376,136, filed August 24, 1953. The weighing operationof the weighing mechanism of scale 15 is transmitted to a computingapparatus 17 which registers the total weight in terms of pounds andsuitable fractions of a pound, and which also computes the value of theload in accordance with a preset price per pound, an example of asuitable such computer being disclosed in detail in the copendingapplication of Kenneth C. Allen Serial No. 436,218, filed June 11, 1954.The scale 15 and computer 17 are inturn interconnected with a printingapparatus 20 which is constructed for cooperation with the scale andcomputer to print and issue successive printed tickets showing theweight and the unit price and value of each load Weighed by the scale.

The nature of the particular printer and of the ticket or label which itissues is not material to the present invention, but by way ofillustrative example, the printer 20 is shown and referred to herein asconstructed in accordance with the disclosure of the application ofKenneth C. Allen Serial No. 548,148, filed November 21, 1955. Thisprinter is provided with manual control knobs 21, 22 and 23 whichcorrespond to dollars, dimes and cents per pound and are mounted on theoutside of the printer casing 24 for presetting the unit price of thecommodity being weighed. An example of. a ticket produced by thisprinter 20 is shown at 25 in Fig. 2, and the means for printing theweight, price and value designations on each ticket are indicateddiagrammatically in Fig. 8 as including a plurality of printing wheels'26 and a cooperating impression hammer 27 operated by the drive of theprinter which is represented diagrammatically at 28 and which may, forexample, be of the construction shown in Robertson Patent No. 2,056,486.

The present invention provides a mechanism which is identified generallyat 30 in Fig. 1 and which functions to receive each successive ticketissued by the printer 20' and to deliver such ticket to a deliverystation in a manner offering maximum aid to the operator in achievingspeed and accuracy in the application of such tickets to the successiveweighed packages. For example, the form of the invention shown in Fig. 1and Figs. 3-6 is intended for use in conjunction with the weighing andpackaging of a food commodity such as ground meat which it is customaryto package in a transparent wrapper with the identifying ticketcontained within the wrapper. The mechanism 30 is especially adapted forcooperation with a printer arranged to issue the successive printedtickets with the printed face down, such as the mechanism shown in Fig.8 and in application Serial No. 548,- 148, and the mechanism 30accordingly includes means for turning the ticket to a face-up positionat its delivery station to facilitate its application to the package.The details of this mechanism are best seen in Figs. 3-6.

The mechanism 30 includes a front housing 3-1 adapted to be directlysecured to the printer housing 24 as by means of the screws 32. Withinthe housing is a frame which includes left and right side plates 33 and34 secured to the housing as by the screwed connections indicated at 35and connected together by straps 36 or the like. The side plates 33 and34 project rearwardly from the housing 30 and are adapted to extend intothe lower portion of the interior of the printer housing where theyunderlie the front end of the guide chute 40 through which thesuccessively printed tickets 25 are issued by the ejector wheels 41 ofthe printer with the printed face of each ticket being down. The parts42 and 43 mounted on the guide chute 40 are associated with mechanismfor printing the commodity designation on each ticket as shown inapplication Serial No. 548,148 and otherwise form no part of the presentinvention.

The side frames 33 and 34 support a pair of superimposed feed rolls 44and 45 having their nip located to receive a printed ticket issuing fromthe chute 40. As best shown in Fig. 3, the upper roll 44 extendssubstantially the full distance between the side frames, andsatisfactory results have been obtained with this roll formed of metalsuch as brass. The lower feed roll engages the freshly printed surfaceof each ticket, and it is therefore shown as a pair of rubber spacedrollers 45 adjacent opposite ends of shaft 46 to engage only theunprinted side edges of the ticket. The ends of the shaft 46 and alsothe shaft 47 of roller 44 are received in slots 48 in the side framespermitting vertical movement of the rolls and gravity loading of theirnip by the weight of the metal roll 44.

A drive motor is provided for the feed rolls 44 and 45. This motor 50 ismounted on the frame by bolting to a pair of tabs 51 and 52 bentinwardly from the two side plates 33 and 34, and the drive shaft 53 ofthe motor carries a worm 54 meshing with a worm gear 55 on a shaft 56journaled in the frame below the roller shaft 46. The shaft 56 carries asmall metal roller 57 at each end for frictional engagement with therubber rollers 45 to provide therethrough a friction drive to the feedrolls 44 and 45.

The driven feed rolls 44 and 45 are therefore located to receive andadvance the ticket ejected from the knife chute 40, but this ticket willstill be face-down when it emerges from the feed rolls. The inventionaccordingly provides a guide chute arrangement which turns the ticketover to a face-up position before it reaches the delivery station foruse by the operator. Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, the chute60 of generally- S-shape is secured to the frame by suitable screws andflanges 61. The upper end of this chute projects between the upper feedroll 44 and the shaft 46 for the rubber feed rollers 45 so that theejected ticket passes out initially above the chute. A guide member 65is mounted on the frame of chute 60 and includes a curved upper portionand a straight and smoothly surfaced lower portion 66 whichprojectsdownwardly at an angle into the path of a ticket 25 emergingfrom the feed rolls 44 and 45. This guide member also has an opening 67in its curved upper portion providing for viewing of the feed rolls andmanual access thereto.

The operation of this guide chute arrangement is clearly shown in Fig.5. As a ticket 25 is first advanced by the feed rolls 4445, its leadingedge engages and slides upwardly along the guide surface 66 until thetrailing end of the ticket is free of the feed rolls. The upwardmovement of the ticket then stops, and gravity causes it to slide backdown toward the chute 60. Since the guide member overhangs the lower endof the chute it cooperates with the chute to flip the ticket over to aface-up position.

The initial delivery station of the ticket handling mechanism is definedby a stop 70 projecting upwardly through a slot 71 in the chute 60. Thisstop 70 is a flange extending upwardly from an arm 72 pivoted on a shaft73 extending between the side plates 33 and 34. The arm 72 terminates ina lever 75 depending at the front of the housing 31, and a torsionspring 76 normally biases the arm in clockwise direction as viewed inFig. 4 to cause the stop 70 to project into the path of downwardmovement of the ticket along chute 60.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the ticket will be held at the deliverystation by the stop 70 until the lever '75 is pushed back, which may bedone either by the hand of the operator or by pushing this lever withthe package to which the particular tickets relate. When the lever isactuated by means of the package itself, as indicated at 77 in Fig. 6,the stop 70 is retracted from chute 60 and thus allows the ticket toslide down the rest of the chute in such manner as to land directly onthe package face up and ready to be wrapped therewith. Similarly if thelever 75 is actuated manually, the ticket will be deposited in the handof the operator for manual application to the package as may bedesirable with larger packages such -as roasts or the like.

Special provision is made in accordance with the invention forpreventing the accumulation of tickets at the discharge station, whichmight cause application of the. wrong ticket to a package, and thisresult is accomplished by blocking operation of the motor 50 after oneticket has reached the discharge station until the lever 75 has beenactuated to retract stop '70 for removal of the ticket. Morespecifically, the control circuits for the motor 50 are designed toprovide for cyclic operation of this motor, as described in detailhereafter in connection with the wiring diagram in Fig. 11, and thesecircuits include a switch 80 which requires operation after one cyclehas been completed before a second cycle can be started. This switch 80is mounted on the frame of the ticket handling mechanism by means of abracket 81 in position for actuation of its control arm 82 by a finger85 projecting below the arm 72, the details of this mechanism beingshown in Fig. 10.

The wiring diagram in Fig. 11 illustrates the operation of the tickethandling mechanism of Figs. 3-6. In addition this wiring diagramincludes some portions of the control circuits of the printer 20 inorder to illustrate how the controls for the ticket handling mechanismmay be interconnected with the printer for the purpose of correlatingthe operations of all parts of the complete weighing system of Fig. 1.'A complete cycle of this weighing system begins when the package orother article-is placed on the scale platter 16, the price-perpoundselectors 21-23 having first been adjusted to the wheels 26 areautomatically set to the proper positions.

in accordance with the weight and value of the package, and the printercycle is completed to print and issue the appropriate ticket 25, acomplete disclosure of apparatus for carrying out this cycle being foundin application Serial No. 548,148. The operation of the ticket handlingmechanism is correlated with that of the printer to actuate. the motor50- in timed relation with the issue of the'ticket by the printer.

The present invention is not limited tousewith specific computing andprinting mechanism, since it is alsoapplicable, for example, to a ticketprinter requiring manual setting from a visually observed weighing andcomputing mechanism, and the wiring diagram therefore includes only suchfragments of parts relating to the computer 17 and printer 20 as arehelpful in understanding one way of interconnecting the ticket handlingmechanism therewith. Thus the computer circuits are indicated by theblock diagram 17 in Fig. 11, and the printing portion of the completecycle is shown as initiated through the computer by applying a groundthrough a switch 98 in the circuits 17 to a line 99 leading to the coilof a relay 100 which corresponds to the relay 530 in application SerialNo. 548,148. The energizing circuit for relay 100 runs from line 99through a line 101, the back contacts 102 of a relay 103, the line 104,and the normally closed switch 80 to the positive side of the powersupply. The relay 100 immediately locks itself in through its terminals105 and 106 and the upper contacts of a switch 107 having a control arm108 operated by a rotary cam 109 driven by the motor 110 whichconstitutes the main drive motor of the printer 20, and whichcorresponds to the printer motor 150 in application Serial No. 548,148.

The motor 110 has a starting switch 111 which is operated mechanicallyin response to the energizing of a solenoid 112. This. solenoid 112 isenergized immediately upon the closing of relay 100 by a circuit runningthrough line L1 through the contacts 113 of relay 100, a line 114, theback contacts 116 of a relay 115, and a line 117 leading through thecoil of solenoid 112 to line L-2. The relay 115, which corresponds torelay 543 of application Serial No. 548,148, is energized simultaneouslywith the starting of printer motor 110 through the switchzlll and thelines 118 and 119. Closing of relay 115 immediately breaks the circuitthrough its contacts 116 to solenoid 112 and causes the latter to open,but by this time the switch 111 is under the control of the printingmechanism and is held closed mechanically until the printing cycle iscompleted, as indicated diagrammatically by the cam 109' and asdescribed in the above Robertson Patent No. 2,056,486, and therefore therelay 115 will remain energized until the printing cycle is completed.

Closing of relay 115 also completes an energizing circuit for relay 120,which corresponds to relay 560 of application Serial No. 548,148. Thiscircuit runs through the contacts 113 of relay 100, the line 114, thecontacts 121 of relay 115, the register mechanism of the printer asindicated diagrammatically at 122, and the line 123. Closing of relay115 also closes the relay 103 through the contacts 124 of relay 115 andline 125 as shown, and relay 103 immediately locks itself in through itscontacts 126 and the line 127 to switch 80.

The circuit conditions established up to this point hold duringoperation of the printer register mechanism to set the several printingwheels 26 of the printer as described in application Serial No. 548,148.Upon conclusion of this step'in the cycle, the relay 120 is deenergizedby opening of the circuit through the register mechanism, as indicatedby the switch 129, thus closing the back contacts 1300f relay 120. Thenwhen relay is deenergized upon opening of switch 107 by operation of cam109, the operating circuit for the motor 50 will be completed throughthe back cont-acts 131 of relay 100 and the contacts 132 of relay 115.The motor 50 is accordingly then energized to. drive the ticket feedrolls 44 and 45, and it remains. energized until the relay isdeenergized as, a result of! the opening of switch 111 upon completionof the'print-ing cycle.

The momentum. of motor 50 is suificient to complete ejection of theticket evenafter relay 115 has deenergizedl and. opened its: contacts132, and the ticket is accordingly delivered to the delivery station ofthe ticket handling mechanism in the position shown in Fig. 5. At thispoint, a new cycle of the printer cannot begin, since the. switch 80remains closed to lock in the relay 103, and thereforev relay 100 cannotbe reenergized because the back contacts 102 of relay 103 remain open.Then as soon as the operator withdraws the delivered ticket asdescribed, the accompanied opening of switch 80 breaks the holdingcircuit for relay 103 so that this relay is able to deenergize and thusto reclose its back contacts 102 in preparation for the next cycle ofrelay 100 after switch 80 is reclosed.

This circuit arrangement. therefore makes it impossible for the printerto. operate until after the previously printed ticket has been withdrawnfrom the delivery station of the ticket handling mechanism, thuspreventing accumulation of tickets at the delivery station and possibleapplication of the wrong ticket to a Weighed article. Provision is alsomade by the invention for preventing accidental use of a defectiveticket resulting from an error in the operation of the printer. In thenormal cycleof the printer as described above, the relay will deenergizeahead of relay .100 as the result of opening of the register mechanismcircuits indicated at 122. In. the event of error in the operation ofthe printer, however, relay 120 will not open ahead of relay 100.Furthermore, after relay 100 opens, relay 120 will remain energizedthrough a circuit running through its contacts 133,.a line 134, themanual reset switch 135 and the back contacts 136 of relay 100. The backcontactsv of relay 1'20 therefore remain open so that the ejector motor50 is prevented from operating.

This error condition is corrected by closing of the reset switch 135,which corresponds to switch 5 80 in application Serial No..548, 148, andwhen it is closed, it breaks. the. self-locking circuit for. relay 1 20and thus causes this switch to open. At the same time, the printer cycleis completed by issuing the defective ticket, which the ticket handlingmechanism will eject, but since the operator was forced to operateswitch manually to correct for the error, by depression of the switchoperating button 137 on the front of the printer, it was positivelycalled to his attention that this ticket was defective and must not beused.

Fig. 12 shows a variation of a portion of the circuits of Fig. 11 whichmay be used if it is desired to be able to start the next operation ofthe printer as soon as switch 80 is opened instead of waiting until ithas been reclosed. The difference is that the line 104' connects to thepositive side of the switch 80 to provide a continuous positiveconnection for one of the back contacts 102 of re-- lay 100. Normaloperation with this circuit arrangement is the same as described inconnection with Fig. 11, and switch 80 must be opened at the end of thecycle to permit relay 103 to deenergize for a new printing cycle andthen reclosed to permit relay 100 to close. However, with the circuit ofFig. 12, as soon as switch 80 is opened, relay 103 will deenergize toclose its back contacts 102 and provide a positive connection forreenergizing of relay 100 through line 104 to permit immediaterestarting of the printing cycle. This arrangement also facilitatesrepeat operation of the printer to print a plurality of identicaltickets by means of the repeat switch described in application SerialNo. 548,148 which has the effect of reclosing relay 100 after relay 115opens to cause repeat operation of the printer so long as switch 80 isheld open.

Figs. 7-9 illustrate a form of ticket handling mechanism in accordancewith the invention for use with tickets provided on the backs thereofwith a heat activatable adhesive coating for application as a label tothe outside of a wrapped package. This vunit therefore incorporates aheating element 150 for activating the adhesive coating on the tickets,but many of the other parts in Figs. 7-9 are shown as identical with thecorresponding parts in Figs. l-6 and carry the same referencecharacters. The housing 151 in Figs. 7-9 i also quite similar to housing31 and is similarly secured to the printer casing, and the side plates153 and 154 form a frame within housing 151 which supportsthe' otherworking parts of the device.

The heating element 150 is carried by a plate 155 of aluminum or othermetal having good heat conducting properties which is mounted on tabportions 156 of the side plates 153 and 154 by insulating blocks 157 andsuitable screws. The element 150 is inserted in a bore in a dependingportion 158 of plate 155, and it is shown in Fig. 11 as connectedbetween the lines LE1 and L-Z and also as provided with an adjustablethermostat control 160 which has an operating knob 161 on one side ofhousing 151 as shown in Fig. 7. The major portion of the front ofhousing 151 is open, and a handle 165 of generally U-shape lies in thisopening surrounding the plate 155 and is pivoted to the frame at itsupper end by a rod 166. A torsion spring 167 normally biases handle 165in clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 8.

A chute 170 similar in function to the chute 60 is secured to the insideof handle 165 by flanges 171 spot welded to the handle. The chute 170 isfiat except for its upper end which projects between the feed roll 44and shaft 46, and chute 170 is shown as provided with slots 172 toreduce its surface area and also to provide ventilating openings forheat rising from the heater 150. Similar ventilating openings 173 may beprovided adjacent the heater in the side plates 153 and 154. The handle165 also carries a bracket 175 which corresponds in function to thefinger 85 for operating the switch 80 as shown, and since the lower endof handle 165 is close to heater 150, it is provided with an insulator176 of suitable plastic or like material. A screw or pin 177 projectsfrom the frame for contact with bracket 175 to establish an upper limitposition for handle 165 under the biasing force of spring 167.

The operation of this form of the invention is generally similar to thatpreviously described in connnection with Figs. l- 6 and 11. Fig. 8 showsthe normal position of the parts, and when motor 50 is operated aspreviously described, the ejected ticket 25 will slide face down alongthe chute 170 and across the plate 155, which thus forms a continuationof the chute. This movement of the ticket will be arrested by contactwith the inner end of handle 165, which thereby defines a stopcomparable in function'to the stop 70. Since the plate 155 is hot, theadhesive coating on the upper surface of the ticket will be activatedthrough the body of the ticket, and the operator then need merely pressthe package against handle 165 to depress it against spring 167 untilthe package engages and adheres to the tacky surface of the ticket asindicated by the package 180 in Fig. 9. In order to prevent possiblesmearing of the freshly printed portion of the ticket, the upper surfaceof plate 155 is. provided with a shallow groove 181 which coincides withthe designations of weight, price and value on ticket 25 as shown inFig. 2.

The sequence of operations already described in connection with Fig. 11applies equally to the form of the device shown in Figs. 7 and 9, theheating element being simply connected in parallel between lines L-l andL2. The function of the switch 80 is the same in both forms of thedevice, and it is similarly actuated when the operator depresses handle165, by the bracket 175 which depends from the handle. However, withthis form of the invention, it may be necessary to hold the package andthe ticket on the heater fora substantial interval as compared with theform of Figs. 3-5, as for example to insure adhesion in the labeling ofpackages or frozen foods, and this requiresthe switch 80 to be held openduring such interval. Therefore, the wiring arrangement of Fig. 12should preferably not be used since it would permit re-cycling of theprinter to begin immediately upon opening of switch 80 and mighttherefore cause delivery of one or more additional tickets while thepackage is still being held at the delivery station.

It should be noted that both of the ticket handling devices of theinvention may readily be used interchangeably without modification ofany of the other parts of the system. This result is facilitated by theprovision of a terminal block 185 or other connector carried by theinner end of the frame of each unit which provides for simpleinterconnection of either unit by a complementary terminal member 186with suitable connecting lines to the printer circuits for theelectrical parts carried by the individual ticket handling units. Inaddition, provision is made for operation of the printer with neither ofthe tcket handling devices in use, by means of an auxiliary terminalblock 187 mounted on a part of the frame of the printer for connectionwith the member 186 to complete the printer circuits which wouldotherwise be left open by disconnection of members 185 and 186. Forexample, this result is accomplished by completing a circuit from line101 to the positive side of switch 80 which thus by-passes switch andthe contacts 102 of relay 103 and thereby prevents relay 103 fromblocking operation of the printer.

Provision is also made for physically preventing installation of eitherticket handling device without properly connecting it to the printer.The terminal block 187 is mounted in such position within the printerhousing, as shown in Fig. 8, that when the member 186 is connectedthereto, the member 186 will lie in the path of insertion of the sideplate 33 or 153 into the printer housing. In other words, neither tickethandling device can be inserted in the printer housing until the member186 has been disconnected from the terminal block 187, and this in turnshould remind the operator of the necessity of connecting member 186with block 185.

It will accordingly be seen that this invention offers importantpractical advantages of speed and convenience in prepackagingoperations. Thus when the packages are of the type wherein the ticket iswrapped with the packaged commodity, the only manual action required forthe operator is first to place the package on the scale platter for theshort interval of-time necessary to determine its weight and to supplythis weight factor to the computer and printer as described in the otherabove identified applications. As soon as this part of the cycle iscompleted, which may be signaled by a light 190 on the front of thescale in application Serial No. 376,136, and before the printing cyclehas even started, the operator can remove the weighed package from theplatter and replace it with the next package to be weighed. The completecycle including printing may require as little as only two or threeseconds, and therefore by the time the operator has completed thisexchange of packages on thee platter, the ticket should have been issuedand delivered to the delivery station. The operator therefore need onlyrelease the ticket by depressing lever 75 as described above, either bypressing the package against this lever or by actuating the levermanually.

The use of the invention with tickets having an adherees sive coating asdescribed in connection with Figs. 7-9 is if anything even simpler. Thestep of weighing is the same, and by the time the packages have beenexchanged on the platter, the ticket will normally have been deliveredto the heated delivery station for activation of its adhesive coating.All that remains is for the operator to press the package down on thisactivated coating in order to complete the Weighing and labelingoperation. It Will also be clear that with both types of ticket andhandling unit, ample provision has been made by the invention forprotection against error from either mechanical or human failure. Thusthe invention offers outstanding advantages of accuracy as Well as speedand convenience.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a system for weighing articles and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of an article, weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing and issuing a ticket identifyingthe weight and value of an article weighed by said weighing mechanism,means electrically interconnecting said weighing mechanism with saidcomputer and printer to cause said computing and printing operationsthereof in response to the weighing operation ofv said weighingmechanism on each successive said article, means connected with saidprinter for receiving each successive ticket issued by said printer andincluding means responsive to completion of the operation of saidprinter for delivering each said ticket to a delivery station, meanseffective at a predetermined point in the operation of said printer andsaid delivering means for blocking subsequent operation of said printer,and means adjacent said delivery station for actuation by the operatorin conjunction with the Withdrawal of said ticket from said deliverystation to release said blocking means for subsequent operation of saidprinter.

2. In a system for weighing articles and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of an article weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing and issuing a ticket identifyingthe weight and value of an article weighed by said Weighing mechanism,means electrically interconnecting said weighing mechanism with saidcomputer and printer to cause said computing and printing operationsthereof in response to the weighing operation of said Weighing mechanismon each successive said article, means including a housing connectedwith said printer for receiving each successive ticket issued by saidprinter, a retractable stop on said housing defining a delivery stationfor said tickets, means in said housing responsive to completion of theoperation of said printer for feeding each said issued ticket to saiddelivery station, means effective at a predetermined point in theoperation of said printer and said feeding means for blocking subsequentoperation of said printer, and means responsive to retraction of saidstop for releasing said blocking means for subsequent operation of saidprinter.

3. In a system for weighing articles and producing a. printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of an article weighed by said Weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing data obtained from said computerand from said weighing mechanism on one sideof a ticket and then issuingsaid ticket, means electrically interconnecting said weighing mechanismwith said computer and printer to cause said computing-and said printingand issuing operations thereof in response to the weighing operation ofsaid weighing mechanism a it) on each successive said article, meansincluding a hous ing connected. with said printer for receiving eachsuccessive ticket issued by said printer, means carried by said housingand responsive to completion of the operation of said printer fordelivering each said ticket to a delivery station, and means on saidhousing cooperating with said delivering means to turn said ticket overduring travel of said ticket from said printer to said delivery station.

4. In a system for Weighing articles and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of an article weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing data obtained from said computerand from said weighing mechanism on one side of a ticket having a heatactivatable adhesive coating on the other side thereof and then issuingsaid ticket, means electrically interconnecting said weighing mechanismwith said computer and printer to cause said computing and said printingand issuing operations thereof in response to the weighing operation ofsaid weighing mechanism on each successive said article, means includinga frame connected with said printer for receiving each successive ticketissued by said printer, heater means carried by said frame foractivating said adhesive coating on each said ticket, means on saidframe defining a delivery station for said successive tickets andincluding a stop located to position each successive said ticket inheat-exchanging relation with said heater means upon arrival of saidticket at said delivery station, and means mounting said stop forretraction to render each successive said ticket accessible for removal.

5'. In a system for weighing articles and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a compunter forcomputing the valuev of an article Weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing data obtained from said computerand from said Weighing mechanism on one side of a ticket having a heatactivatable adhesive coating on the other side thereof and then issuingsaid ticket, means electrically interconnecting said weighing mechanismwith said computer and printer to cause said com puting and saidprinting and issuing operations thereof in response to the weighingoperation of said weighing mechanism on each successive said article,means including a housing connected with said printer for receiving eachsuccessive ticket issued by said printer, means defining a deliverystation for said successive tickets on said housing having an opensurface adapted to allow direct contact with the article which has beenweighed, means carried by said housing and responsive to completion ofthe operation of said printer for delivering each said ticket to saiddelivery station with said printed side thereof adjacent said surface,and heater means carried by said housing at said delivery station foractivating said adhesive coating on each said ticket upon arrival ofsaid ticket at said delivery station to provide for direct applicationof the heated ticket to the article by movement of the article onto theadhesive coated surface of the ticket.

6. A device of the character described for handling successive ticketscomprising a housing, a pair of feed rolls mounted in said housing forreceiving successive said tickets, a chute at the front of said housingdepending below said feed rolls for receiving each said ticket therefromin downwardly sliding relation, a retractable stop adjacent the lowerend of said chute for limiting downward movement of said ticket on saidchute, a drive motor carried by said housing for driving said feed rollsto advance and deliver each said ticket to said chute, control means forsaid motor effective to block further operation thereof followingdelivery of one said ticket to said chute, and means for releasing saidblocking means in response to retraction of said stop for with-;

drawal of said ticket.

device of the character described for handling successive ticketscomprising a housing, a pair of feed rolls mounted in said housing forreceiving successive said tickets, a chute at the front of said housingdepending below said feed rolls for receiving each said ticket therefromin downwardly sliding relation, a retractable stop adjacent the lowerend of said chute for limiting downward movement of said ticket on saidchute, a drive motor carried by said housing for driving said feed rollsto advance and deliver each said ticket to said chute, a control switchfor said motor mounted in said housing and effective to block furtheroperation of said motor following delivery of one said ticket to saidchute, a retracting member for said stop having an actuating part, andmeans carried by said retracting member for operating said switchconjointly with retraction of said stop to release said motor forfurther operation.

8. The device as defined in claim 7 in which the actuating part of saidretracting member projects from said housing below said chute forengagement by an article to which said ticket is to be applied.

9. A device of the character described for handling successive ticketscomprising a housing, a pair of feed rolls mounted in said housing forreceiving successive said tickets, a chute at the front of said housingdepending below said feed rolls for receiving each said ticket therefromin downwardly sliding relation, a retractable stop adjacent the lowerend of said chute for limiting downward movement of said ticket on saidchute, a guide projecting forwardly from said housing above said feedrolls and including a portion at the most forward portion thereofextending downwardly and rearwardly toward said chute below and oppositesaid feed rolls in the path of a ticket advanced by said feed rolls, andmeans for driving said feed rolls to advance each said ticket into saidguide and thereby to cause said ticket to travel upwardly within saidguide until clear of said feed rolls and then to drop down onto andalong said chute in inverted relation with the position thereof duringtravel through said feed rolls.

10. A device of the character described for handling successive ticketshaving a heat activatable adhesive coating thereon, comprising ahousing, a pair of feed rolls mounted in said housing for receivingsuccessive said tickets, an inclined chute at the front of said housingdepending below said feed rolls for receiving each said ticket therefromin downwardly sliding relation, a stop adjacent the lower end of saidchute for limiting downward movement of said ticket on said chute and cooperating with said chute to define a delivery station for each saidticket on said chute, means for driving said feed rolls to advance anddeliver each said ticket to said chute, and heating means mounted withinsaid housing beneath said chute and adjacent said stop for activatingsaid adhesive coating on each said ticket engaged with said stop.

11. A device of the character described for handling successive ticketshaving a heat activatable adhesive coating thereon for application tosuccessive articles, comprising a housing, a pair of feed rolls mountedin said housing for receiving successive said tickets delivered thereto,an inclined chute depending below said feed rolls for receiving eachsaid ticket therefrom in downwardly sliding relation with said adhesivecoating uppermost, a retractable stop adjacent the lower end of saidchute for limiting downward movement of said ticket on said chute, meansfor driving said feed rolls to advance and deliver each said ticket tosaid chute, heating means mounted beneath said chute and adjacent saidstop for activating said adhesive coating on each said ticket engagedwith said stop, and means supporting said stop for depression by one ofsaid articles to a position below the upper plane of said heating meansto provide for direct engagemerit of said article with said activatedadhesive coating.

12. A device of the character described for handling successive ticketshaving a heat activatable adhesive coating thereon for application tosuccessive articles, comprising a housing, a pair of feed rolls mountedin said housing for receiving successive said tickets delivered theretowith said adhesive coating uppermost, an inclined chute depending belowsaid feed rolls for receiving each said ticket therefrom in downwardlysliding relation, means for driving said feed rolls to advance anddeliver each said. ticket to said chute, means for blocking furtheroperation of said driving means following delivery of one said ticket tosaid chute, heating means including a heated plate forming acontinuation of said chute to receive said ticket slidingly therefrom, aretractable stop located adjacent the lower edge of said plate to holdsaid ticket on said plate for activation thereby of said adhesivecoating, means supporting said stop for depression by one of saidarticles to a position below the upper plane of said plate to providefor direct engagement of said article with said activated adhesivecoating, and means responsive to depression of said stop for releasingsaid blocking means for further operation of said driving means.

13. In a system for weighing articles and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, an electricallyoperated computer for computing the value of an article weighed by saidweighing mechanism, a printer including electrically operated means forprinting and issuing a ticket identifying the weight and value of anarticle weighed by said weighing mechanism, means electricallyinterconnecting said weighing mechanism with said computer and printerto cause said computing and printing operations thereof in response tothe weighing operation of said weighing mechanism on each successivesaid article, a housing including a frame mechanically connected withsaid printer for receiving each successive ticket issued by saidprinter, a retractable stop on said housing defining a delivery stationfor said tickets, electrically operated means in said housing responsiveto completion of the operation of said:

printer for feeding each said issued ticket to said delivery station,separable terminal means for electrically interconnecting said feedingmeans with said printer to actuate said feeding means in timed relationwith the operation of said printer, means effective at a predeterminedpoint in the operation of said printer and said delivering means forblocking subsequent operation of said printer, means responsive toretraction of said stop for releasing said blocking means for subsequentoperation of said printer, and additional terminal means carried by saidprinter for selective cooperation with the first named said terminalmeans to by-pass said blocking means and thereby to enable operation ofsaid printer in the absence of said feeding means.

14. In a system for weighing articles and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, an electricallyoperated computer for computing the value of an article weighed by saidweighing mechanism, a printer including electrically operated means forprinting and issuing a ticket identifying the weight and value of anarticle weighed by said weighing mechanism, means electricallyinterconnecting said weighing mechanism with said computer and printerto cause said computing and printing operations thereof in response tothe weighing operation of said weighing mechanism on each successivesaid article, a housing including a frame mechanically connected withsaid printer for receiving each successive ticket issued by saidprinter, a retractable stop on said housing defining a delivery stationfor said tickets, electrically operated means in said housing responsiveto completion of the operation of said printer for feeding each saidissued ticket to said delivery station, means including first and secondseparable complementary terminal members connected with said feedingmeans and said printer respectively for electrically interconnectingestates said feeding means with said printer to actuate said feedingmeans in timed relation with the operation of said printer, meanseffective at a predetermined point in the operation of said printer andsaid delivering means for blocking subsequent operation of said printer,means responsive to retraction of said stop for releasing said blockingmeans for subsequent operation of said printer, and a third terminalmember mounted on said printer for selective connection with said secondterminal member to by-pass said blocking means and thereby to enableopera tion of said printer in the absence of said feeding means, saidthird terminal member being located to position said second terminalmember in the path of mechanical connection between said housing andsaid printer to prevent said mechanical connection without disconnectionof said second and third terminal members.

15. A device of the character described for handling successive ticketsfor application to successive articles, comprising a housing, a pair offeed rolls mounted in said housing for receiving successive saidtickets, an inclined chute depending below said feed rolls for receivingeachsaid ticket therefrom in downwardly sliding relation, means fordriving said feed rolls to advance and deliver each said ticket to saidchute, means for blocking further operation of said driving meansfollowing delivery of one said ticket to said chute, a retractable stoplocated adjacent the lower end of said chute to hold said ticket on saidchute, means supporting said stop for depression to a position below theupper plane of said chute out of holding relation with said ticket, andmeans responsive to depression of said stop for releasing said blockingmeans for further operation 'of said driving means.

16. In a system for Weighing articles and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of an article weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing and issuing a ticket identifyingthe weight and value of an article weighed by said weighing mechanism,means electrically interconnecting said weighing mechanism with saidcomputer and said printer to initiate said computing operation inresponse to completion of the weighing operation of said weighingmechanism on each successive article and to initiate said printingoperation in response to completion of the related said computingoperation, means defining a delivery station for receiving each saidticket issued by said printer, means responsive to the operation of saidprinter for a first said ticket for blocking said electricallyinterconnecting means from initiating printing of a second said ticket,and means actuated as an incident to the withdrawal of said first ticketfrom said delivery station for releasing said blocking means.

17. In a system for weighing articles and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of an article weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing and issuing a ticket identifyingthe weight and value of an article weighed by said weighing mechanism,means electrically interconnecting said weighing mechanism with saidcomputer and said printer to initiate said computing operation inresponse to completion of the weighing operation of said weighingmechanism on each successive article and to initiate said printingoperation in response to completion of the related said computingoperation, means defining a delivery station for receiving each saidticket issued by said printer, means actuated by said printer fordelivering each said ticket to said delivery station, means responsiveto operation of said printer for blocking said electricallyinterconnecting means from causing printing of a successive said ticket,and means actuated as an incident to the withdrawal of a ticket fromsaid delivery station for releasing said blocking means;

18. In a system for weighing articles and producing a 14 printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of an article weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing and issuing a ticket identifyingthe weight and value of an article weighed by said weighing mechanism,means electrically interconnecting said weighing mechanism with saidcomputer to initiate said computing operation in response to completionof the weighing operation of said weighing mechanism on each successivearticle, electrical means responsive to completion of each saidcomputing operation for trans mitting weight and price data to saidprinter and initiating printing thereby of an appropriate ticket, meansconnected.

with said printer for receiving each successive ticket issued by saidprinter and including means defining a delivery station for receivingeach said ticket issued by said printer, means responsive to operationof said printer for a first said ticket for blocking the supplying tosaid printer of weight and price data for a second ticket, and meansactuated as an incident to the withdrawal of said first ticket from saiddelivery station to release said blocking means.

19. In a system for weighing loads and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of a load weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing and issuing a ticket identifyingthe weight and value of a load weighed by said weighing mechanism, meanselectrically interconnecting said weighing mechanism with said computerand said printer to initiate said computing operation in response tocompletion of the weighing operation of said weighing mechanism on afirst load and to initiate said printing operation in response tocompletion of the related said computing operation, means defining adelivery station for receiving each said ticket issued by said printer,means actuated by said printer for delivering each said ticket to saiddelivery station, means responsive to completion of the weighingoperation of said weighin mechanism for said first load for initiating acomplete cycle of operation of said computer and printer, means forminga part of said system effective at a predetermined point in said cyclefor blocking the carrying out of a complete subsequent cycle for asecond load, and means actuated as an incident to the withdrawal of saidticket for said first load from said delivery station for releasing saidblocking means.

20,. In a system for weighing loads and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of a load weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing and issuing a ticket identifyingthe weight and value of a load weighed by said weighing mechanism, meanselectrically interconnecting said weighing mechanism with said computerand said printer to initiate said computing operation in response tocompletion of the weighing operation of said weighing mechanism on afirst load and to initiate said printing and issuing operation inresponse to completion of the related said computing operation, meansincluding a stop defining a delivery station for receiving each saidticket issued by said printer, means cooperating with said printer todeliver each said issued ticket by gravity to said delivery station,means supporting said stop for movement between an advanced positionpreventing movement of a ticket from said delivery station and aretracted position out of the way of said ticket, means responsive tocompletion of the weighing operation of said weighing mechanism for saidfirst load for initiating a complete cycle of operation of said computerand printer, means forming a part of said system effective at apredetermined point in said cycle for blocking the carrying out of acomplete subsequent cycle for a second load, and means operated by themovement of said stop from said advanced to said 15 retracted positionthereof for releasing said blocking means.

21. In a system for weighing loads and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of a load weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing and issuing a ticket identifyingthe weight and value of a load weighed by said weighing mechanism, meanselectrically interconnecting said weighing mechanism with said computerand said printer to initiate said computing operation in response tocompletion of the weighing operation of said weighing mechanism on afirst load and to initiate said printing and issuing operation inresponse to completion of the related said computing operation, meansincluding a stop defining a delivery station for receiving each saidticket issued by said printer, means cooperating with said printer todeliver each said issued ticket by gravity to said delivery station,mean=s supporting said stop for movement between an advanced positionpreventing movement of a ticket from said delivery station and aretracted position out of the way of said ticket, means responsive tocompletion of the weighing operation of said weighing mechanism for saidfirst load for initiating a complete cycle of operation of said computerand printer, means forming a part of said system effective at apredetermined point in said cycle for blocking the carrying out of acomplete subsequent cycle for a second load, means including a switchfor releasing said blocking means, and means carried by said stop andmovable therewith from said advanced to said retracted position thereoffor operating said switch.

22. In a system for weighing loads and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of a load weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing and issuing a ticket identifyingthe weight and value of a load weighed by said weighing mechanism andhaving a heat activatable adhesive on the back thereof, meanselectrically interconnecting said weighing mechanism with said computerand said printer to initiate said computing operation in response tocompletion of the weighing operation of said weighing mechtanism on afirst load and to initiate said printing and issuing operation inresponse to completion of the related said computing operation, meansincluding a stop defining a delivery station for receiving each saidticket issued by said printer, heater means below said delivery stationfor activating said adhesive coating, means cooperating with saidprinter to deliver each said issued ticket by gravity to said deliverystation with said adhesive coating uppermost, means supporting said stopfor movement between an advanced position preventing movement of aticket from said delivery station and a retracted position providing fordirect pressure application of the load to said adhesive coating againstsaid heater means, means responsive to completion of the weighingoperation of said weighing mechanism for said first load forinitiating'a complete cycle of operation of said computer and printer,means forming a part of said system eiiective at a predetermined pointin said cycle for blocking the carrying out of a complete subsequentcycle for a second load, and means operated by the movement of said stopfrom said advanced to said retracted position thereof for releasing saidblocking means.

23. In a system for weighing packages and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of a package weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for printing and issuing a ticket identi fyingthe weight and value of a package weighed by said weighing mechanism,means electrically interconnecting said weighing mechanism with saidcomputer and said printer to initiate said computing operation inresponse to completion of the weighing operation of said weighingmechanism and to initiate said printing and issuing operation inresponse to completion of said computing operation, a chute forreceiving each said ticket issued by said printer, a stop adjacent theopposite end of said chute from said printer for retaining each ticketwithin said chute, and means connected with said stop and positioned forengagement by the package to cause retraction of said stop and releaseof said ticket.

24. In a system for weighing packages and producing a printed recordthereof, the combination of a weighing mechanism, a computer forcomputing the value of a package weighed by said weighing mechanism, aprinter including means for. printing and issuing a ticket identifyingthe Weight and value of a package weighed by said weighing mechanism,means electrically interconnecting said weighing mechanism with saidcomputer and said printer to initiate said computing operation inresponse to completion of the weighing operation of said weighingmechanism and to initiate said printing and issuing operation inresponse to completion of said computing operation, a chute forreceiving each said ticket issued by said printer, a stop adjacent theopposite end of said chute from said printer for retaining each ticketwithin said chute, means responsive to the issuance of a ticket forblocking issuance of a second ticket, means connected with said stop andpositioned for engagement by the package to cause retraction of saidstop and release of said ticket, and means including a switch positionedfor operation by said step during retraction thereof for releasing saidblocking means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,803,448 Biebel Aug. 20, 1957

